Amateur rugby trophies 34: Dylan Baris, Adrien Cabanel, Alexis Nicolas… elect the best player in Regional 2

Remobilized for the Occitanie finals, the Bédariciens saw their title dream fly away in the quarter-finals, after an epic penalty shootout against Bassoues, the future champion. “We lead by 10 points with five minutes to go”, still regrets the one who scored his penalty during the session.

The quarter-final did not smile on the CAB, since the yellow and blue club lost at this stage, against Espalion, in the French R2 championship. Captain for two seasons now, Dylan Baris, who often wears the number 12 on his back, has nevertheless experienced a rise. "We thought we had the promotion on the ground but we finally went and got it thanks to our regular season", adds the one who defines himself as someone “calm and thoughtful”.

Adrien Cabanel (3rd row/SG Pic Saint-Loup)

20 years ago, he started playing rugby in Saint-Clément de Rivière, at the Pic Saint-Loup rugby school. Adrien Cabanel, has found his beloved colours again, seven years after leaving them. “I did all my rugby school at the Pic, then I left for Paris and came back last year”, explains the 30-year-old player. Joining a squad that was large in quantity, ambitions were high in Regional 2.

“We're having a pretty good season, with second place in the group, even if the goal was to move up”, relates Cabanel, third or second row. Behind the solid CAB team, Saint-Gély Pic Saint-Loup nevertheless had a successful season, with a shield.

“We won this final against Bédarieux, to bring back a title, it's incredible”, continues the captain of the Green and White.
This leader of the game, particularly in the defensive sector, who knows how to put his team back on the right track, missed the whole of the beginning of 2024, due to an injury, but returned in time for the final stages in the spring (12 matches).

Victorious in the Occitanie play-off against Ouveillan, the suburban Montpellier residents then broke their teeth at Bassoues, the future champion. Then during the “France”, Six-Fours got the better of their hopes of qualification, in the 32nd finals.

Alexis Nicolas.

Alexis Nicolas (Centre/Maureilhan-Montady)

An atypical profile as only amateur rugby can present us. Both hooker and centre, Alexis Nicolas made his Maureilhan-Montady club benefit from his versatility last season. “Last year I had a great time playing up front, but now I would like to settle in at the back”, says the man who has just signed for ESPCV, the club where he started out.

The previous season was a bit disappointing for ASMM. “A season of ups and downs, we still managed to do some good things to go for qualification”, points out the 30-year-old player.

Fourth in their group, the Maureilhanais fell to Millas, the future finalist. From a personal point of view, Alexis Nicolas' season was full: 18 matches, with a captaincy at stake. “There were two of us sharing the captaincy, he explains. I like to speak just before going on the pitch. I am more discreet on the pitch. But in the end of the match, the leader is important to manage."

Now in Portiragnes-Cers-Villeneuve, with lots of old acquaintances, Alexis aspires to "like everyone else, take a photo with a Shield at the end of the season."